BUFFALO, New York (Reuters) - Russia's junior ice hockey team were kicked off a flight for rowdy behavior after their stunning victory over Canada in the gold medal game at the world junior championship, an official said on Thursday.
The Russian team, who overcame a three-goal, third-period deficit for a dramatic 5-3 win over Canada late on Wednesday, had been asked to settle down while waiting to board a Delta flight to Atlanta on Thursday.
But the players continued their unruly behavior on the plane and were removed from the flight by the pilot.
"They were on the plane and apparently had been asked by the Delta crew to calm down in the boarding area but didn't heed the warning," airport spokesman C. Douglas Hartmayer told Reuters.
"They continued to be unruly and, in order to have safe operation of the flight, the pilot asked them to leave the plane and they did."
Hartmayer said members of the Russian contingent contacted a local hotel and left the terminal but had no details if other travel arrangements had been made.
Delta was not available for comment.
(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto; editing by Frank Pingue; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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